Actress and TV host Maine Mendoza sparked excitement among netizens, especially loyal AlDub fans, after she revealed in the latest episode of the Tamang Panahon podcast that she once had real feelings for actor Alden Richards during the height of Eat Bulaga’s iconic Kalyeserye segment.
When asked if she ever fell for her on-screen partner back then, Maine openly admitted her feelings 10 years ago,
“Ako nainlove talaga ako kay Alden. Vocal naman ako, kahit sino naman yung magtanong sa akin, sasagutin ko naman ng diretso. Nainlove ako sa kanya,” Maine said.
However, the actress clarified that Alden never courted her during those years despite their undeniable chemistry on screen.
Mixed Reactions from Fans
The confession quickly reignited the “kilig” factor among longtime AlDub supporters online. But while many fans looked back fondly at the pair’s onscreen magic, some netizens threw criticism at Alden, sparking debate across social media platforms.
No Malice Intended
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Maine addressed the issues surrounding her revelation, saying the podcast’s intent was to look back at the Kalyeserye era and share behind-the-scenes stories, including personal anecdotes.
Okay, so about the last podcast episode.. Una sa lahat, I didn’t think the part about my story with Alden would spark controversy, let alone be a big deal, considering that everyone had already moved on from Kalyeserye and AlDub. From the start, I hoped the clashes between fans…
— Maine Mendoza (@mainedcm) August 19, 2025
“I believe it’s not a bad thing to share a personal story related to the question and topic, as long as it’s based on facts. There was no malice or ill intent behind my sharing that story about myself, him, and us,” she wrote.
Maine also emphasized that many of the stories remain untold and that their podcast episode merely touched on “surface-level” experiences.
To close her statement, Maine appealed to her supporters not to direct hate toward Alden over events that happened nearly a decade ago.
P.S. Please don’t throw hate on Alden. Regardless of what he meant by his words, it was really for the best for both of us and our situation at that time. Don’t read much into it. ☺️
— Maine Mendoza (@mainedcm) August 19, 2025
Her openness in the podcast has since fueled nostalgia, with fans revisiting the AlDub phenomenon, one of the country’s biggest love teams that once drew millions of viewers and even filled the Philippine Arena during its peak.
